Reserve Navy Lieutenant Glen Latona is serving as an individual augmentee assigned to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications at the International Security Assistance Force headquarters in Kabul. Over 300 Reserve Sailors are assigned to U.S. Central Command in Tampa, Florida, where they directly contribute to the war effort through part-time drilling or full mobilization. Reserve Sailors support a variety of roles, including providing operational support, planning for regional crises, coordinating with coalition partners from 30 nations, and intelligence analysis in direct support of the CENTCOM commander.

1. By Cmdr. T. Scot Cregan, Navy Public Affairs Support Element East
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Reserve Sailor Lt. Glen Latona, who drills out of NAS North
Island in Coronado, Calif., looks at a map with U.S. Army Lt. Col.
Chris Belcher, chief of press desk, ISAF Public Affairs. Latona
is currently serving as an individual augmentee assigned to the
Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications, HQ International Security
Assistance Force in Kabul as the Executive Officer. (DoD photo by
Staff Sgt. David Zheng, USAF)
H
ave you ever wondered how you can directly
contribute to the warfighting effort, when you don’t
have the time to commit yourself to a mobilization?
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) in Tampa, Fla. is
a place where Reserve Sailors do just that. Whether
on a full or part-time basis, CENTCOM enables Reserve Sailors to
make a difference as a drilling Selected Reservist, or mobilized
Sailor, and an essential part of today’s combatant command.
With national and international partners, CENTCOM promotes
cooperation among nations, responds to crises, deters and defeats
state and non-state aggression, supports development and, when
necessary, reconstruction in order to establish the conditions for
regional security, stability, and prosperity in 20 countries in the
Middle East.
Currently, there are 324 drilling Reserve Sailors assigned to
CENTCOM headquarters, including 33 serving on longer active
duty MOB/ADSW/ADT orders. Reserve Sailors also provide
support to U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (USNAVCENT),
headquartered at Naval Support Activity Bahrain, Kingdom
of Bahrain and the sub-unified command Special Operations
Command Central (USSOCCENT).
Most Reserve Sailors support CENTCOM headquarters via
specific units or Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) billets
hosted by NOSC Tampa, on MacDill AFB. Other CENTCOM
units are supported by NOSCs throughout the country. Typically,
Reserve Sailors will alternate their drills between CENTCOM HQ
and their NOSC during mandatory stand-downs, where they will
complete their Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA).
U.S. Central CommandU S Central Command
14 | THE NAVY RESERVIST | JUNE 2014

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“Our Reservists are truly integrated with the staff and an
integral part of day to day operations, critical to long term
planning for CENTCOM HQ,” said Cmdr. Chan Shin, Reserve
Operational Support Officer (OSO), “We have Sailors providing
a full range of operational support to CENTCOM from COCOM
exercises, to real world operations including OEF, and contingency
planning for regional crisis in complex joint and coalition
environments.”
Not only is CENTCOM multiservice, it is also multinational
with dedicated facilities that host representatives from
approximately 30 partner nations.
“Working with international partners provides unique
challenges and opportunities you can’t experience anywhere
else,” said Lt. Cmdr. Anthony Dill who has worked in the Coalition
Village for three years. “I am responsible for coordinating U.S.
logistical support for troops and equipment, KIAs (Fallen Heroes)
and retrograde for approximately 30 partner nations”. As a
member of CENTCOM’s CCJ5–CCC (Coalition Coordination Center)
Air Ops, Dill leverages both his civilian job as an American
Airlines pilot and Navy experience as a C-130 pilot for VR-62.
Much of the work Reserve Sailors do is secret and in direct
support to the CENTCOM commander and national command
authority. CENTCOM Reserve Sailors operate the Joint Operations
Center (JOC) for the Commander [U.S. Army Gen. Lloyd J.
Austin], executing real world intelligence missions and analysis,
planning and executing the retrograde mission in Afghanistan,
leading coordination with our coalition partners, and providing
essential staff support.
“Joint Intelligence Center Central (JICCENT) 0174 members
provide direct and substantive support to the warfighter. Their
outstanding dedication and focus on tasking is amazing,” said
JICCENT 0174 Commanding Officer Capt. Dave Hagen.
Another example of top-level support is Reserve Sailor Lt.
Claudia Rivas, an Information Warfare Officer assigned to the
CCJ3-Information Operations Division as Deputy Branch Chief of
Plans and Operations. Lt. Rivas, who works as a systems analyst in
the Windows Enterprise Architecture department at International
Paper in Memphis, Tenn., manages operations for a division of 187
personnel to include U.S./U.K. military, civilian, and contractors.
“It’s a unique experience working at a warfighting command. As
an Information Operations (IO) planner, I put theory into practice.
I oversee the development and approval of IO plans that support
operations, actions, and activities spanning across four on-going
conflicts, evolving crises, and revolving terrorist threat streams. It
is a challenging but rewarding tour of duty,” said Rivas.
Although a combatant command headquarters has many senior
officer billets, there are numerous opportunities for enlisted
ratings. Chief Yeoman (IDW) Patricia Kamadia, USCENTCOM/
CCCC-Commander’s Action Group, provides administrative
support, leadership, and professional development guidance to
her enlisted team.
“Our Reserve Sailors bring their civilian expertise along with
their military skills to provide top-notch service. Many come to
CENTCOM from the fleet or other Navy-specific command, so
it takes them some adjustment to work in a Joint environment.
However, once they’re onboard the sky is the limit. My Sailors
enjoy the flexibility of being able to drill part-time, or volunteer to
be mobilized to a location of their choice,” Kamadia said.
CENTCOM Reserve Sailors are called upon to assist with major
exercises and often tapped for contingency operations. They are
the essential personnel that keep the tip of the spear sharp and
our nation safe.
U.S. CENTRAL COMMAND | 15
“Our Reserve members are truly
integrated with the staff, part of day to
day operations, and critical to long term
planning for CENTCOM HQ.”
Interested in a CENTCOM tour?
Reserve Sailors interested in joining a CENTCOM unit
or IMA billet should possess the following traits to be
considered for selection:
TS/SCI Clearance required — must be able to obtain
within first quarter of affiliation
Previous AOR deployment a plus
Available for drills Monday thru Friday vice,
Saturday-Sunday only
Flexibility to rapidly deploy in support of real
world operations
Willing and able to work telephonically and thru email
during the week
Possess a thirst for international affairs
Squared-away military bearing